Letters to the Editor -- Published July 27, 2009

Monday

Jul 27, 2009 at 12:01 AM

Our Governator recently "fired" several members of the Board of Registered Nursing. What the story doesn't tell you is that three of the board members were up for reappointment and were told they would not be reappointed. One resigned. The rest were open positions that the governor has never filled.

Our Governator recently "fired" several members of the Board of Registered Nursing. What the story doesn't tell you is that three of the board members were up for reappointment and were told they would not be reappointed. One resigned. The rest were open positions that the governor has never filled.

He says that the process to investigate complaints against nurses takes too long. The truth is the BRN no longer does those investigations. The Department of Consumer Affairs (which oversees the BRN) took those investigators away and consolidated them into other departments - yet he blames the BRN for not being more timely. How can this be the fault of a board whose hands are tied?

The Medical Board has 76 investigators that work for the Medical Board that covers 22,000 medical licenses. The BRN shares 40 positions with many other boards in a department where they do not control the staff or priorities, and there are 350,000 nurses in the state.

The Governator doesn't know what's going on in California let alone the Board of Registered Nursing.

Cheryl Keser Peterson, RN, MSN, CCRN

Stockton

I just wanted to let the Stockton/Lodi area know of a very special optometrist, Dr. Katherine Beckman. Her office is in Lodi, but she is one of a very few (if any) remaining professionals who will still come to see a patient who is unable to get to her.

I recently had a corneal ulcer that started while on my way to work. The next morning I went in to see her and she told me if this were ever to occur again I was to call her cell phone and she would come in to Stockton to see me either at work or at home. She and her office staff are very caring, courteous people who go that extra mile.

Dauna Newman

Stockton

Stockton Unified School District Trustee Dan Castillo from Area 7 must be removed as our board president.

Stocktonians, enough is enough. As taxpayers we need your help. SUSD is headed for bankruptcy. Under the direction of Superintendent Tony Amato millions of dollars have been stolen from our children. The Success For All program materials, now tossed, cost of over $11 million.

After everything you have read and witnessed, it is time for you to get involved. As voters we must show this SUSD board that we have the power to take them out if they do not honestly fulfill their fiduciary responsibility in our children's best interest. As it is, we are losing our population to Aspire and other surrounding districts.

Castillo has allowed Amato to destroy our school communities. As a lifetime Stocktonian, I would urge you to make a difference in our schools. Amato and Castillo must go!

Lori Muller-Gray

SUSD teacher

» NOTE: Muller-Gray, who teaches at Adams School, served Castillo with a recall notice on May 29 after graduation ceremonies for Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology

Stockton Unified School District has had many ups and downs over the years but one employee, Annie Podesto, has always been a dependable and constant source of excellence, professionalism and personal integrity. In her role as Program Specialist for Math, she trained, inspired, nurtured, energized and encouraged thousands of teachers. Annie filled them with knowledge and an excitement for learning that they, in turn, shared with their students.Annie is retiring after generously and lovingly serving children for 39 illustrious years. This will be a great loss to the students and staff of SUSD. Annie will be missed!